Fort Bliss to build biggest solar farm in military

Apr. 5, 2013 - 08:36AM
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FORT BLISS, Texas — Fort Bliss will start construction of the largest solar energy farm in the U.S. military.

Once completed, the 20-megawatt solar farm is expected to power all of the 1st Armored Division headquarters and most of East Fort Bliss.

Gen. Dana Pittard, the commander of Fort Bliss, is scheduled to announce Friday the Army Corp of Engineers authorization for El Paso Electric to launch the project. It’s the first time the Army is partnering with a local utility on a renewable energy project of that size.

In a statement, Fort Bliss said the new project will reduce the base’s carbon footprint and be a step toward fulfilling the Army’s goal of using 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025.